Automatic stop mechanism for magazine phonographs



Sept. 8, 1942. F. J. OFFEN 2,295,092

AUTOMATIC STOP MECHANISM FOR MAGAZINE PHONOGRAPHS Filed March 12, 1941 3Sheets-Sheet l v INVENOR.

Sept. 8,1942. F, J, OFFEN 2,295,092

A AUTOMATIC STOP MECHANISM FOR MAGAZINE PHONOGRAPHS Filed March 12; 19413 Sheqts-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MJ Q W A ATTORNEY.

Sept. 8, 1942. F. J. OFFEN 2,295,092

AUTOMATIC STOP MECHANISM FOR MAGAZINE PHONOGRAPHS Filed March 12, 1941 3Sheets-Sheet 5 MNVENgZR.

ATTORNEY.

' the turntable.

Patented Sept. 8, 1942 or ac AUTOMATIC STOP MECHANISM FOR -MAGAZINEPHONOGRAPHS Francis John Offen, Swindon, England, assignor to GarrardEngineering & Manufacturing Com pay, Limited, Swindon, England, acorporation of Great Britain Application March 12, 1941, Serial No.383,018

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic stop mechanism for soundreproducing machines or phonographs.

The stop mechanism of the invention is particularly designed for usewith an electrically .of the'type referred to that downward .movement ofan.

"eleased by the which abuts the stack-of records.

These and further objects of the invention will become more evident inthe following description of a preferred. embodiment of the inventionillustrated in the draw ngs. wherein:

with means for engaging only the lowermost record.

Upon the completion of the playing of a record,- a cam shaft isconnected through a clutch with the motor driving the turntable. Anumber of operations are performed during each revolution of the camshaft. First, the tone arm with its pickup unit is lifted from therecord and swung out of the way. Then, the peripheral support engagesthe lowermost of the records to drop it into playing position on theturntable. Finally, the tone arm is brought into record playing positionon the outer groove of the new record on the turntable, which is now inreadiness to be played.

The stack of records supported over the turntable is pressed by a recordabutting or steadying arm. When the last record has been dropped ontothe turntable, this arm collapses due to its own weight and the. actionof a biasing spring. This downward movement of the record arm initiatesthe operation of the automatic stop mechanism. After the last record hasbeen played, the cam shaft again rotates in the manner set forth above.The camshaft continues to rotate until the tone arm is swung away fromthe record. Means are provided] which the cam shaft actuates to operatethestop mechanism, which in turn disengages an electric switch incircuit with the electric drive motor, and also engages a brakingmechanism to stop the turntable.

Figure l is a view in perspective of one form of phonograph embodyingthe stop mechanism oi'the invention.

- Figure 2 is a plan view, partially broken away,

of the record changer of Figure 1, with the turntable removed to showthe automatic stop and associated mechanisms.

Figure 3 is a plan view, on enlarged scale, of a part of Figure 2,showing theautomatic stop mechanism in a position with the electricswitch disconnected.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 44 ofFigure 2, illustrating the mechanism for releasing the automatic stopmechanismafter the last record has been dropped onto the turntable.

Figure 5 is'a sectional. view, substantially on the line 5-.-5. ofFigure 4, showing the driving connections between the motor and camshaft. Figures'6 and '7 are fragmentary views of a detail illustratingdifferent operating positions of the .mechanism' for. releasing theautomatic stop.

. Figure 8 is a. fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the record.steadying arminits inoperative position. 7

Referring to the drawingsyand more particu-' larly tov Figure 1, therecord changer phono-- H graph comprises base plate Ill, turntable ll.rotatably mounted above base plate 10, and centering spindle I2. Spindle12 has a shoulder [3. for

supporting a stack of; records thereon, and is provided with a pluralityof leaf springs It. It is to be. understood that other record stackingand changing arrangements may be used. When It is an object of thepresent invention to" provide an improved automatic stopping mechanismfor phonographs.

"it is another object of the invention to provide astop for electricallydriven phonographs of the type which automatically. plays a stack ofrecords in succession, the stop mechanism being automatically initiatedwhen the last record has dropped into playing position; and actuated.after that record has been played.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic stopmechanismfor phonographs base plate to, adapted.to-bereciprocated 'inaa-reco'rd is dropped, it engages leaf springs l4 and is retarded,therecord dropping with a minimum of noise. A tone arm l5, provided witha standard pickup unit it,'normally rests on support l1 when not in use..1 i

Standard I8,contains bracket 20. on which a record abutting or steadyingarm 2! is 'pivotally mounted. A pusher plate 22 is provided abovehorizontal direction to disengage the lowermost record from shoulder .13on spindle 12.1 The means forreciprocating record displacing plate 22and for automatic'ally' moving tone arm l5 and pick-up [6 over therecords are not shown since they are not part of the present inven- {Itlon, and are well known in the art. After a record is played, the nextrecord supportedon shoulder; [act-spindle; I2 ;is dropped .down 'uponit.For thisnpurpose tone arm=| is arm-l5 movestowards" the center-.01 therecord.

a suitablemannen'not shown-in the drawg :Lever.-.:;2.4: :is-i-fastened'-to plate: 25.

mentiwlth' lever 26 byrmeans ofra fiber spacer 21 secured to.-lever.:;-.26:;: Lever 26- pivoted-.-at 28 and: :thereforeiirotatesLina;clcckwisefdirjection as plat follows-the move'mentzof tone arm-1:5. A Tflafitnsihh-Zspringiiwikeeps' fiber:spacer 21 in' 1 gconstant-engagement withcplate 2-5. .An'other le- 1 ver 3t .i's'lcentrally-pivoted: arr-321 110 the. oppositei 'end 'of lever'-.-26;:=andislipressed against a stop 29 7 on lever- 26bybiasingspring-533.5.Ahfree end of le'veril is provided-:withafiberroller'. TurntableH is'rotatedbyshaft =to which an arm 36- issecuredw V When lever-1251s=graduallysrotatedin a clock wisedireetionpit causes flberrroller 34 onlever 3i toswin'g: into the pathof arm-36 which-is rotated in a clockwise direction by turntable shaft35."

Fiber roller flend arm: 36 engage before the groove" ofi the-record;Each time turntable makes: one revolution, its arm 36.engages-zrollerneedle of pick -up-lfi has reached thejinnermost 34,causing lever 3-1 torotate in the: counterclockwise direction on itspivot 32 against the.

biasing action of'springae. 4

As the tone arm mov'esinwardly, levers 25 and 3| also move-inwardly-byvirtue of the frictional" engagement of'lever 2G. with plate25. When tone arm- 'l5 reaches the eccentric groove customarily providedas'theinnermost groove on the record."

roller 34 hasadvanced sufiicie'ntlythat. when'arm 36 strikes the-roller-34 lever-3| is 'pivotedi'against spring 33. This movement, causes theopposite end N of lever 3-I 't'o engage and actuate a fur-f ther lever38 pivoted. at 40 onthe frame. Lever 38 isarrangedtd engage with ale'verfflywhich" is shown in gures i and 5."

' mine issecu red' to "camshaft -45. One revolution of placesthQtcne'arm-"JS'"and pick-up 16' upon the Themo to 4Bjdrivesturntableshaftj35 as' w'ell as Shaft 42-;towards clutchsection48-.

is out ofthewayof-"lever 42-, which is then swung jioute of-the; WayTowards.- this; end, a toothed clutch disc isiengagedwith a cam .shaft.1 .4; These operations are. accomplished 'during a licycleor!fullzrevolutionpf thecam shaft.- The almechanismsifor connecting thecam shaft with-' :thei-dri ve amotor -".af ter; a; record:;. has, beenplayed ls-shown iinFigure 2.. Asa-record is- .played,=-tone..The;--movement.; ofatone arme l5 ,isutilized for y cennectingfi thefioperating'i cam" shaft with the j drive--motor;:--hever.:=24coupled-with tone; arm

, When 'a' f srec'ord. isrplayed; plates-2 5.2 -rotatedin: a clockwise-direction;:"Plate 125:-is in fr-lcti or 1al;.engage- V injturnarrangedto actuate 'leverf .42centrally"pivoted at43: on'acam 44. Cani 44" {camshaft 4'5automa'tica11'y changes a record and v outermost groove ofnewly positioned record. j I motorifdrlve is schematically indicated at46.

whrh f as securedfthereto a toothedv clutch sectionflfl. ,Clutchsection. 48 is engage-f ablewithzlug 5D of iever'42; :Spring 5|urgeslever.

free to follow the pull of spring 5|, coupling toothed clutch section 48with cam 44. Since toothed clutch section 48 is continuously rotated bythe drive motor 46; cam shaft 45 will be turned thereby. When cam shaft45 has rotated through 360, lever 4| will have returned to its formerpo- 'sition-andagainst push lever. 42 against'the ac- :tion of spring'5lto interrupt the clutch driving .connection'betweenthe motor 46 and .camshaft 10.4.5; I 5 The-automatic stopping-mechanism is initiated when thelast-recordof the stack-of records supported on shoulder -|3'-"of-1spindle |2 --ihas been droppedvon the turntable. -This =is accomplishedin the-following manner. As shown in Figures 4 and 8. record steadyingarm" 2| is provided with at biasing spring 52. .The other end of'spring52 secured to pin 53 on standard I8. Spring 52 "as'a toggleaction;"WhenJarm'. 2|-is in the open r moperative position of Figure 8; spring 52exts' a pull to the left of "pivot-49 of arm 2|, holdin g' 'arm' 2| inthe'inoperativeposition. After a stack o'f records is placed on'sp'indlel2, arm 2| s lowered-thereon to its position in Figure 5. Spring 52 thenexerts'a'pullto-the right of pivot 49*a'n'd, therefore, tendstopullarmli in the downward direction:

A pin -54-extending from arm: 2'|- engages the mounted -ini-standard 18.Pin 54"is arranged to 'j'u'st rest-upon head 5565 rod 56 -when in itsupper position; as long as armZ-FiS- suxipdrtediby a recordonshoulder 3-of'--spindl 'a |2 '-above the turntable. The lower end of woe 56- reits' upon other end 65 of lever 5"lhas a lateraLext'ending per ionengageable "j-with projection--fil-"otlever -52 -{Lever- 621s pivoted atB3-;-a'fol1o'we'r 65-being pivoted-thereonatfi ti Spring is arranged to7*5-in afcounterclockwise"direction; f

*Bralgeflever 15f'h'as: a downwardly extending piirM-a'da'pbed obe'-engagedw-ith-rthe oblique "endf'portion 82 o orm'ecting rod 83" pivotedto stop s'tart' lever-ll4 top-start lever 841$ pivoted at 85 an'dfhas anactuating pin extending upwardly.'---'Actuating'pin llq'isadapted tobe'operated by hand to stop and start the record changerandphoncgraph'.aswilljbefhiereinafter explained. Connecting 'ro'd83 eent-out section 87 throughw-hich pinea -onleverflzprojects. Folanoblique cam-surface fQDatits end 9|." Cam surface QB'is mounted-forengagement by pro- .iectionon 9'2 ofcaml4'tf "1 The initla'ting'action'and subsequent actuation 7'0' of-the automatic stop: mechanism Willhowbe explained. -When. the last record- R has been dropped f from shoulderl3 of" centering spindle l2, record steadying arm 2i=collapsesto"theposition 2| shown in' dotted lines, one toth'e comhead 55 pfaverti'calro'd'SS'; -"-R0d 551s slidably' lever BflpiVotedat 5'8'as senin"Figure-4. The

draw lever "end 65- towards' follower' 65' 'vvhi'ch, in I lower1ever65is shown-in Figures 4;6and 7', with,

blnod action offgravitr'andspring- 52;""fPin 54' placed thereby, and al'ev'erflex-ibly coupled to 4. In an automatic electric motor driven-phonograph having means for stacking a plurality of records above thetumtable and means for successively releasing the records upon theturntable when a previous one has played: mecha nism for automaticallystopping the operation of the phonograph when playing of the laststacked record is completed comprising an arm pivotally mounted to abutthe last record of the stack to be played, and means coasting with saidarm including a plunger, said plunger being arranged ior displacement bysaid arm when said last record is dropped from the stack; a motor forrotating the turntable; apparatus .engageable with said motor when theplaying of each record is completed comprising a cam piece motivatedwith said apparatus when the apparatus is engaged with said motor, apart normally in the path of said cam piece and displaceable thereby,and a lever flexibly coupled -to said part; an element coactable withsaid plunger and having a portion normally abutting said lever toprevent its displacement; means connected between said portion and saidplunger for moving said portion from the abutting position-upondisplacement of said plunger by said arm, to permit displacement of saidlever with said part; and a switch in circuital connection with saidmotor and actuated into circuit breaking position upon said displacementof said lever.

5. In an automatic electric motor driven phonograph having means forstacking-a plurality of records above the turntable and means forsuccessively releasing the records upon the turntable when a previousone ha's'played: mechanism for automatically stopping the operation ofthe phonograph when'playing of'the last stacked record is completedcomprising an arm pivotally escapes mounted above the records toabut-the last record rod and displacing said rod when said last recordis dropped from the stack; a motor for rotating the turntable; apparatusengageable'with said motor when the playing of each record is completedcomprising a cam piece motivated with said apparatus when the apparatusis engaged with said motor, a part normally in the path of saidcam pieceand displacedthereby, and a lever spring coupled to said part; a'pivoted unit abutting'the lower end of said rod and having a portionnormally abutting said lever to prevent its displacement, said portionbeing moved from the abutting position by said rod when said rod isdepressed by said arm to permit displacement ofsaid .lever with saidpart; and a switch in circuital connection with said motor and actuatedinto circuit breaking position upon said displace ment of said lever tostop the operation of .the phonograph.

6. In an automatic motor driven phonograph having means for stacking aplurality of records above the turntable and means for successivelyreleasing the records upon the turntable when a previous one has played:mechanism for automatically stopping the operation of the phonographwhen playing of the last stacked record is completed comprising a memberarranged to abut the last record of the stack to be played, a springconnected to said member to normally press it against the last record,means positively coacting with said member including an element, saidelement being displaced by the displacement of said member when the lastrecord is dropped from the stack; a motor for rotating the turntable;cyclic apparatus engageable with said motor when the playing of eachrecord is completed comprising a cam piece motivated with said apparatuswhen the apparatus is engaged with said motor, a part normally in thepath of said cam piece and displacea'ble thereby, and a lever flexiblycoupled to said part; means abutting said element and having a portionnormally abutting said lever-to'prevent its displacement, said portionbeing moved from the abutting position when said element is displaced bysaid member permitting displacement of said lever with said part; and aninstrumentality connected with said motor and actuated upon thedisplacement of said lever to stop "the operation of the phonograph.

.FRANCIS JOHN OFFEN.

